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bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
The story takes us through generations of Kosawa residents with switching POVs from Thula, different members of her family, and the children of the village. Their stories are emotional but contain glimmers of hope as they fight to get their land back from an oil corporation poisoning their families.
How Beautiful We Were has beautiful writing and well written, complex characters. I just love her storytelling style and ability to create such depth with all of her characters, giving each their own unique voice.
The chapters are a little too long for my taste making it feel slower/harder to read here and there, but as I got further into the novel, the chapters started to go by faster.
Overall a heartbreaking but enjoyable, groundbreaking novel! I can’t wait to see what Mbue writes next.
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Blood
Minor: Fatphobia and Religious bigotry
plumquin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Genocide, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Religious bigotry, Stalking, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
kylieqrada's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Slavery